The Castle / El Castillo

Justina inherits a mansion in the Argentine Pampas where she used to be the housekeeper—under one condition: that she never sells it. So begins a charming and poignant modern fairy tale as Justina and her daughter Alexia come to live in the big, old house, with more than 60 acres of land to their name but lacking the income they need to support themselves and keep the mansion in good condition. Visits from the former owner’s family bring to light old master-servant tropes, which Justina finds hard to break out of, and while she tries to find sources of income and navigate a long-distance relationship, her daughter dreams of returning to Buenos Aires to become a race car driver. With its outstanding score and intentional sense of humour, The Castle is a masterfully-crafted social drama, imbued with a surrealistic tone and a bewitching atmosphere.

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